Domain pre-registration/backorder service?

I'm trying to get a domain of mine back from the ISP who won't turn it over. The registration expired in 4/07 but for some reason it's not becoming available. Has anyone used anything like www.snapnames.com to back order a domain? I don't like entering CC info w/o knowing everything, so I'd like to find out how exactly it works.
And how much longer until the domain releases, anyway?

I don't owe them money for the domain. I paid for the damn thing, but the administrative contact is my friend who is in the Navy and when he is home he won't do anything but play world of warcraft so I can't get the domain back the regular way.